THE MINK THE POLECAT 119 



black in colour; from this, and from being shorter in the body and 

 longer in the leg than other Martens, it is often called " Black Cat," 

 or even " Black Fox." It does not really catch fish, though glad to eat 

 them if it finds any lying about. 



THE MINK 



THERE are, however, real fishing Weasels in the Minks, of which there 

 are two species, the European (Mustela lutreola) and the American 

 (M. vison], but they are so closely allied that they may be reckoned as 

 one. They are brown in colour, with thick fur and very short ears. 

 The American Mink is the best known, its fur being exported in large 

 quantities, while it is a standing nuisance to poultry-owners, for Minks 

 prey on fish, flesh, and fowl, pursuing their aquatic prey in the water 

 almost as nimbly as the Otter. In America some successful attempts 

 have been made to domesticate Minks, both for their fur and to use them 

 as Ferrets are used. The Mink is about two feet long. 



THE POLECAT 



(Mustela putorius) 



THE Polecat is the best known of the Weasels in the living state, when 

 we consider that our tame Ferrets are its descendants, the brown Polecat- 

 Ferret showing the wild colour, while the white ones are albinos. Wild 

 Polecats are, however, very rarely seen in Britain nowadays, for the 

 creature is so abominably destructive to game, rabbits, and poultry that 

 it has been killed out wherever possible. It is found, however, all across 

 the Continent and Siberia. It is a ground-animal, and not nearly so 

 active as the Martens or typical Weasels. Like Weasels and Stoats, 

 Polecats have been introduced into New Zealand to keep down the 

 imported Rabbits, but unfortunately they have not confined their 

 destructive energies to those rodents, but do much harm otherwise. 



